Exactly one year ago in Uzbekistan, a theatrical but rather false staging played under the title "Our president is alive and well."

According to Fergana sources, the death of 78-year-old Islam Karimov from a stroke sustained two days earlier came on the day of 29 August 2016. Two days later, the official media assured that Karimov accepts congratulations on the Independence Day.

His condition was still "stable" on 31 August 2016. On the first day of September, probably, the whole world knew that Karimov had passed away: Turkey expressed its condolences, the presidents of several neighbouring countries flew to Samarkand urgently, where the body of the deceased arrived.

But an emergency evening news release made 2 September the official date of Karimov's death.

However, it is not so important what day Karimov died on. The important thing is what is his legacy today in Uzbekistan. Finally, who is Islam Karimov? A great ruler or state criminal? A wise politician or an egoist ignoring someone else's opinion? A reformer or tyrant who strangled all the opportunities for economic growth of the country?

I'm afraid that the official ideology in Uzbekistan does not yet provide a clear answer to this question. On the one hand, the new leadership does not debunk the course of the former leader of the country. Nobody publicly criticises the deceased president. Moreover: eulogies honour Islam Karimov which only a great statesman could be worthy of.

Nodir Bobomurodov. "In Paradise"

According to the author of this painting, Islam Karimov is in heaven. But his paradise is not an Islamic garden with houris, but a communist narrow coffin with overseas flowers...